The Office of Policy Development (OPD), originally named the Office of Policy and Planning, was established by Executive Order of the Governor on September 18, 1979. Its role was to assist in establishing policies relating to economic development, human services, public safety and other areas, to work closely with Committees of the Cabinet, and to respond to issues that involved more than one agency or programmatic area. Their primary duties were broadly issue related, for example: to develop new program initiatives and suggest changes to existing programs, to assess feasibility of ideas and proposed changes, to assess effectiveness of policies, and monitor federal actions affecting the Commonwealth. In other words, OPD files here can be seen as a foundation under all policies and achievements and are an invaluable resource.

These files, of Harold Miller, Analyst and then Policy Development Director, are voluminous (see also OPD, Plosila) and cover most major issues. The files are organized by the following major topics: Criminal Justice, Human Services, Education and Training, and Economic and Community Development. Specific topics within those areas include, for example: Liquor Control Board, Health care costs, transportation, environment, and welfare reform, to name only a few. The files consist of memoranda, relating information between Governor Thornburgh and Harold Miller, and some from and to Bob Benko, prior Director. Included, in addition, are: analysts reports, letters, books, notes, brochures/pamphlets, statistical data and newspaper clippings. Material within folders is generally chronologically arranged. Again, it must be emphasized that research materials on all topics is extensive and invaluable.

Education and Training files include various programs, reforms and training initiatives, many in response to the declining SAT scores in the Commonwealth, which at that time was the sixth-largest public school system in the country. Reforms focused on both students and teachers as well, including library reforms. Also in light of the steel industry's demise, Thornburgh put in place CJT, or Customized Job Training, which was intended to provide Pennsylvania workers with new or upgraded skills needed by employers.

Economic and Community Development files consist of programs offered by state government to assist in developing the community work base. Programs such as PIDA (PA Industrial Development Authority) assisted established businesses financially. PMBDA (PA Minority Business Development Authority) directed financial assistance toward minority entrepreneurs through the Department of Commerce. Both of these programs were mandated under the Sunset Act of 1981-142. This Act functioned as an ongoing reviewing process, determining the programs' continuing value to the public. Material covering other programs includes SOICC (State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee), SJTCC (State Job Training Coordinating Council), POICC (Pennsylvania Occupational Information Coordinating Council), and NOICC (National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee).

Welfare Reform files are extensive and incredibly detailed. Thornburgh states about this subject of both fiscal and humanitarian concern: "Although editorial and interest-group mutterings about our welfare reform measures continued into the 1990s, only halfhearted efforts were undertaken to repeal or modify 'Thornfare' and restore the status quo ante. Indeed, our 'radical' reforms looked pretty tame compared to bipartisan welfare reform legislation enacted by the Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1996" (
Evidence, p. 150). There are the following sections: general files, Pennsylvania welfare programs compared to other states' programs, general assistance, H.B.633, H.B.2044, H.B.2340, S.B.363 (Thornfare II), H.B.720, S.B.301, S.B.83, Act 75, S.B.968, H.B.1720, and memos from Walt Plosila.

"The Impact of H.B. 1861 on the Criminal Justice System in Pennsylvania," legislation automatically transferring violent juveniles to criminal court so they are not protected by the Juvenile Act undated

Section: Development of Mandatory Sentencing Proposal

Folder

19

"The Challenge of Crime in Pennsylvania," a policy statement by Richard Thornburgh May 9, 1973

Folder

20

Newspaper clippings 1973-1982

Folder

21

"Staff Report on the Use and Impact of Mandatory Sentencing in Pennsylvania," by Sam McClea September, 1976

Folder

22

"Presentation of Research on Sentencing in Pennsylvania" by Select Committee on the Pennsylvania Association of Probation, Parole and Corrections (PAPPC) before the House Judiciary Committee's public hearings on sentencing reform September 21, 1977

Folder

23

"Sentencing in Pennsylvania: A Study of Sentences Imposed on First and Repeat Felony Offenders and Offenders who Use a Weapon in the Commission of their Offense," by the Pennsylvania Association on Probation, Parole, and Correction May, 1978

Folder

24

"Estimation of Individual Crime Rates from Arrest Records," by Alfred Blumstein and Jacqueline Cohen of Carnegie Mellon University July-November, 1978

Folder

25

Report on parole outcomes after inmate release, published by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency 1978-1979

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26

Criminal Justice Luncheon at Governor's home with Thornburgh to discuss enabling legislation for the first Pennsylvania elected Attorney General, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and sentencing reform April 29, 1980

Thornburgh announces proposal of an anti-crime package to be introduced into State legislature April 28, 1981

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33

Conversion of eight of the Department of Public Welfare's institutions into a prison May 21, 1981

Folder

34

"Seeking Responsible Sentencing Policy: Prison Impact Statements," by Alfred Blumstein of Carnegie Mellon University, and his testimony before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Crime of the Committee on the Judiciary May, 1981

Proposal to construct a prison facility at Graterford June-November, 1981

Folder

19

"Concept Paper for New Correctional Facilities," and "Bureau of Correction: Concept for a Total System" concept papers for new prison locations and construction, prepared by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Correction June, 1981-April, 1982

Folder

20

Conversion of Retreat State Hospital into a correctional facility August-October, 1981

"A Presentation for the Public Education/Mandatory Sentencing Committee" advertising proposal by Packer, Previc, Oesterling and Smith, and firm's research on the public's attitudes toward the mandatory sentencing bill (H.B. 1804) March 24, 1982

"Pennsylvania's Public Education Campaign on Mandatory Sentencing, Project Summary: 'Commit a Crime with a Gun and You've Shot 5 Years of Your Life," prepared by George F. Grode and David McCorkle January 21, 1983

"The Deterrent Effects of Pennsylvania's 5-year Mandatory Sentencing Law on Robberies and Assaults with Firearms," prepared by Robert Morelli of the Bureau of Statistics and Policy Research of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency April-May, 1984

Folder

19

Five Year Mandatory Minimum Cases in Philadelphia, statistical numbers and trends June 7, 1984

Folder

20

Uniform Crime Data report on New York cases of robbery and assault, and its comparison to Pennsylvania trends regarding mandatory sentencing June 8, 1984

Folder

21

Mandatory Sentences reported to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing (PCS), prepared by the PCS March, 1985

Folder

22

"Sentencing in Pennsylvania: 1984 Report," published by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing July 1, 1985

Section: Creation of a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Folder

23

Memoranda and materials regarding S.B. 132, creating a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and defining its responsibilities November 28, 1973-1979

Folder

24

Final results of a Nagel Study by the Athyn Group, on the Pennsylvania Reorganization of Corrections project 1975-1976

Differences between H.B. 1820 and the administration's plans and drafts for the creation of a Department of Corrections November, 1979-June, 1980

Folder

27

Testimonies of Harvey Bartle, III, Ronald Marks, and Rendell Davis before the Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections of the House Judiciary Committee, regarding H.B. 2822 (creating a cabinet-level Department of Corrections) July 30, 1980

"Special report for the 1983 Client Employment and Income Survey: Welfare Dependency" for use regarding parole clients December 12, 1983

Folder

12

Statistics on Funding for Board of Probation and Parole December 12, 1984

Section: Board of Pardons' Executive Clemency Policies

Folder

13

Newspaper clippings 1980-1982

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14

Data analyses of clemency procedures and the effects of the Governor's stricter clemency review standards used by the Pardons Board 1980-1983

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15

"A Study of Recidivism Among Individuals Granted Clemency in Pennsylvania," by Phillip Author of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency May 25, 1982

Section: Miscellaneous Corrections Initiatives

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16

Regulations and possible revisions on the restriction of pre-release for inmates in state correctional facilities May 15, 1981-August, 1984

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17

Correspondence 1981-1984

Folder

18

"Thornburgh supports prisons," Letter to the Editor by Robert C. Wilburn, Secretary of Budget and Administration, regarding state responses to provide for increasing prison overcrowding August-September, 1982

Folder

19

Analysis of S.B. 1361 (relating to child and senior victims and witnesses and disposition of sex offenders) December 30, 1982-November 27, 1984

Intensive Parole Proposal by the Board of Probation and Parole January, 1984-January, 1985

Section: Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing's Guidelines

Box 268

Folder

1

Initial sentencing guidelines proposed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and other materials regarding sentencing October 25, 1980-January 23, 1982

Folder

2

"Report on the Potential Impact of the Proposed Initial Guidelines on Incarceration Rates and Incarceration Lengths in Pennsylvania," a report by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing November 6, 1980

Folder

3

Testimony of Richard H. Glanton to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing (PCS), regarding proposed sentencing guidelines of the PCS December 10, 1980

Folder

4

Summary of Final Sentencing Guidelines October 17, 1981-January 22, 1982

Folder

5

Governor's position on PCS's sentencing guidelines November 16, 1981

Folder

6

Impact of final sentencing guidelines, prepared by the PCS March 29, 1982

"The Report of the Governor's Panel to Investigate the Recent Hostage Incident at Graterford State Correctional Institution," prepared by the Graterford Panel, and responses of the administration August, 1982

Folder

17

Funding the recommendations of the Graterford Panel October-December, 1982

Folder

18

"State Correctional Institution at Graterford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: Feasibility Study, Final Report" to provide a plan for addition of 500 cells for inmates November 30, 1982

Proposal Submitted to the Executive Director of the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee for an ICDM Special Purpose Grant by SOICC August, 1984

Folder

18

"Pennsylvania Occupational Information System Labor Demand-Supply Relationship Component," Prepared by the Department of Labor and Industry and the Office of Employment Security with Pennsylvania State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee September 25, 1984

"Report to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate on Progress of Programs funded by the Pennsylvania Economic Revitalization Fund (PERF) and Administered by the Department of Commerce" March 1, 1986

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32

Employment and Unemployment Changes in PA undated

Folder

33

Changes made to the Corporation Bureau undated

Section: Economic Development Policies and Reports

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34

"Economic Development in Pennsylvania: A Status Report and Blueprint for the Future," by Dick Thornburgh, Governor April, 1983

Folder

35

"Pennsylvania's Economic Development and Community Conservation Strategy Budget and Policy Brief," prepared by Commonwealth of PA 1984-1985

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36

"PA Economic Revitalization Tax Credit Guidelines: Program Description and Application Form," by James Scheiner, Secretary of Revenue and James Pickard, Secretary of Commerce October, 1985

"Advanced Technology Policies for the Commonwealth of PA," prepared by Geoffrey Stengel, Secretary of Department of Commerce and Walter Plosila, Director of Office of Policy and Planning August 5, 1982

Folder

2

Implementation of Advanced Technology for Pennsylvanians August 12, 1982

Folder

3

"Choices for Pennsylvanians: Status Report," a working paper of the Pennsylvania State Planning Board August 16, 1982

Folder

4

"Advanced Technology Industries: Current Situation and Future Growth Prospects," draft summary by the Office of Policy and Planning August 19, 1982

Folder

5

"Advanced Technology Development in the York Pennsylvania Area," draft working paper by the Office of Policy and Planning October 7, 1982

"Ben Franklin Partnership: Linking Higher Education, Government and Business for Economic Growth," Information Service, No. 34, published by National Council for Urban Economic Development November, 1985

Folder

11

"Final Report of State Science Engineering and Technology Program," prepared by Governor's Office of Policy and Planning undated

Folder

12

"An Advanced Technology Policy for The Commonwealth of PA: A Document Addressing Pennsylvania's Approach to Economic Diversification for the 80's," prepared by Geoffrey Stengel, Department of Commerce, and Walter Plosila, Office of Policy and Planning undated

"The States and Distressed Communities: ACIR Information Report," by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (includes Thornburgh administration reviews for 1980-1982) June 29, 1981-November 8, 1982

Section: Historic Preservation

Folder

20

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: A New Departure," by Larry E. Tise, Executive Director of the PHMC May 21, 1981

"Public Welfare: A Comparison of Pennsylvania with the Nation," Summary February 28, 1979

Folder

15

Public Assistance Programs in Michigan June-October, 1984

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16

Oregon's Welfare Program May 5, 1982

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17

1982 Update on "Public Welfare: A Comparison of Pennsylvania with the Nation" July 16, 1982

Folder

18

AFDC in Pennsylvania and other states 1982-1984

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19

Information comparing General Assistance Benefits for Pennsylvania and Contiguous States September 21, 1983

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20

Welfare Benefits in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware July 5, 1984

Folder

21

Massachusetts Employment and Training Program 1985-1986

Section: General Assistance (GA)

Folder

22

Costs January, 1979-March, 1981

Folder

23

Program Presentation Outline September 25, 1980

Folder

24

General Assistance Survey regarding Length of Time on Rolls January 6, 1981

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25

OES Priority for General Assistance Recipients March-November, 1981

Folder

26

Statistics and Data April 17, 1981

Folder

27

"Where to Go to Get the Dough: A Refugees Guide to General Assistance," by Urban Systems Research and Engineering, Inc. May, 1983

Folder

28

Differences between General Assistance and AFDC-CU undated

Section: H.B. 633 (PA Employables Program)

Folder

29

Sections 405.1 and 405.2 August 7, 1979

Section: H.B 2044

Folder

30

"Money, Work, and Crime: A Summary of the Findings of the Transitional Aid Research Project (TARP)," by Peter Rossi, Richard Berk and Kenneth Lenihan June, 1979-June, 1980

Folder

31

"Welfare Reform: A Budget and Policy Brief" March, 1980

Folder

32

"Review of PA H.B. 2044 of the Commonwealth of PA Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee," by the Public Enterprise Research Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania May 30, 1980

Folder

33

"Report on H.B. 2044: Consequences for the General Assistance Population," prepared by the Department of City and Regional Planning, Regional Science Department, Urban Studies Program, University of Pennsylvania May 30, 1980

Transitionally Needy: "A Report on the status of employment and training programs for the transitionally needy and other chronically unemployed persons in North Philadelphia," by Senator Roxanne H. Jones July, 1985

"Preventing Childhood Death and Injury on Pennsylvania Highways: Opportunities and Responsibilities for State Government," Final Report of the Governor's Interagency Task Force on Highway Safety for Children, correspondence, analyses, and recommendations August-December, 1980

"Low Level Radioactive Waste: An In-Depth Study pursuant to House Resolution 24," by the Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Representative Camille George, Chairman) August 26, 1985

Folder

7

Radiological Health Regulations Package August 28, 1985

Folder

8

Water quality criteria and threshold levels for the priority pollutants and other toxics (with corresponding tables) August, 1985

Main Brief of the Staff of the Governor's Energy Council before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regarding Limerick Unit No. 2 Investigation (Docket No. I-840381) (includes annotated drafts) April -May, 1985

Comparison of Pennsylvania to Fortune 500 and other states September, 1982-May, 1983

Section: Federal Aid to Pennsylvania

Folder

11

"Federal Aid to Pennsylvania: Analysis of State Performance with Recommendations for Improvement," by H. Sheldon Parker, Jr., Chairman of Select Committee on Federal-State Affairs, House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and memos 1974-1983

Folder

12

Pennsylvania's position of military spending 1982-1983

Folder

13

Summary and Analysis of the AFSCME Report, "State of the States" March 4, 1983